Inspired by Alex’s post[1] on a great “last-minute shopping” baseball book, I’m listing a few others that look interesting (though I haven’t gotten to read these …yet):

“When Baseball Went to War[2]“: “Drawing on the resources of The National World War II Museum and richly illustrated with many never-before-published photographs, (this) is a fitting tribute to the players of the Greatest Generation–heroes who saved America’s Game thanks to their efforts on the battlefield and on the ballfield.” Also includes an audio CD featuring interviews with the players of the era.

“First Class Citizenship: The Civil Rights Letters of Jackie Robinson[3]“: ” …presents a full picture of the man whose grace and confidence on the field were matched (if not surpassed) by a voice that spoke out, long and loud, for the equal opportunity, civil rights, and humanity of all Americans. Jackie Robinson’s letters are a rich and invaluable contribution to his singular legacy and to the dynamic history of the civil rights movement.”

“Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball[5]“: “Wally Yonamine was both the first Japanese American to play for an NFL franchise and the first American to play professional baseball in Japan after World War II. This is the unlikely story of how a shy young man from the sugar plantations of Maui overcame prejudice to integrate two professional sports in two countries.”

… and finally, here are three books detailing the history of “The House that Ruth built”:

“Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective[7]“: More than 250 photographs – many never before published – “allow you to walk in the Stadium beside Mantle and Maris, witness the only perfect game in World Series history, and see the Stadium during the stirring 2001 World Series.” It is also has firsthand accounts of what it was like to be there as history unfolded.

[9] Remembering Yankee Stadium: An Oral and Narrative History of ‘The House That Ruth Built’: http://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Yankee-Stadium-Narrative-History/dp/1584797169/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229370068&sr=1-8